A joyride on the seas: Aboard the world's largest, 'most instagrammable' cruise ship
Royal Caribbean Cruises' Symphony of the Seas, the world’s largest and newest cruise ship, embarked on its maiden voyage. “We have built Symphony of the Seas to be the jewel in our Instagram crown. The architectural marvel provides the perfect backdrop for her 6,680 guests to capture incredible onboard images that are going to take over Instagram feeds worldwide,” says Ben Bouldin, MD, Royal Caribbean. To help guests make the most of these Insta-moments, the company has appointed an ‘Instagrammer-in-chief’ to help guests create truly enviable Instagram shots
Based on research that nearly half of Britons (45 percent) choose a holiday based on the opportunity for social media boasting power, ‘bragalicious’ Instagram content and ‘an ultimate experience’ has been considered at each stage of construction. It took 36 months, 4,700 shipbuilders and their crew to build the cruise ship, designed around vacationers’ preferences
Spanning 1,188 feet, the ship welcomes double occupancy in its 2,759 staterooms, including 28 additional balcony rooms that overlook the ocean or signature Boardwalk neighborhood. Royal Caribbean partnered with STX France in building this ambitious, technologically-advanced ship
The Royal Promenade showcases the Beetle Sphere—a sculptural made of several Volkswagen Beetles compressed into one spherical ball by Indonesian artist Ichwan Noor—among other unusual art installations
At the aft of the ship, there’s live action at the AquaTheatre, an amphitheatre with aquatic acrobatics and high-diving aerial performances set against the ocean backdrop
A view of the the main dining room and the Solarium Bistro, an upscale eatery atop the ship that serves up New England-inspired seafood, and Izumi’s Sushi, among others
A spread from El Loco Fresh. Made-to-order tacos and burritos wrapped with fresh tortillas are among the Mexican ‘street food’ favourites for those looking to fuel up with minimal downtime
The Perfect Storm trio of water slides offers exciting views as guests launch themselves from the deck through a series of swirling twists and turns and finally onto the pool
Hi-tech projection capabilities and highly-skilled entertainers bring performances to life at the cruise line’s signature ice rink
Meet the robotic bartenders. A marvel of modern technology, guests can watch in awe as their drinks are made to order with precision and flair at the Bionic Bar
Brace yourself for a spine-tingling rush as you whizz across the Boardwalk, suspended on the zip-line nine decks above. For the game-crazy, there’s the first onboard glow-in-the-dark laser tag game, Battle for Planet, in a space-bound adventure that will see teams go head-to-head to lay claim on the last planet in the galaxy
Brave the exhilarating Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea with a ten-storey drop. And reward yourself later at Sugar Beach, the signature candy and ice cream shop. There are even DIY activities for the aspiring culinary artist
For those with a larger-than-life family and appetite, there’s the 1,346-square-foot Ultimate Family Suite that features an in-room slide, a private cinema with an 85-inch HD TV, a floor-to-ceiling lego wall and a 212-square-foot balcony, complete with a full-sized whirlpool and a Royal Genie, who caters to your every whim
Enjoy the Tony-award winning broadway hit ‘Hairspray’ at the 1,401-seat Royal Theater on-board. Or step across the tropical park to the Casino Royale, the largest casino at sea
